Gwyn Jones: French and English set to dominate 2012 Heineken Cup

WHY, oh why, would the French and English clubs want to jeopardise the future of the European Cup?

WHY, oh why, would the French and English clubs want to jeopardise the future of the European Cup?

Apart from the fact that the competition injects a huge dose of vitality into the rugby calendar as the autumn weather closes in, it is clear that this season is likely to see a team from either France or England lift the Heineken Cup.

The iron grip that the Irish regions have had on this trophy is loosening.

Munster are undoubtedly a side in transition and on the downward part of that arc and Leinster struggled to scrape past Exeter Chiefs in Dublin, not the form normally shown by future champions.

To be sure it’s a long season, but the balance of power is shifting back towards the traditional Anglo-French axis.

In general, the Heineken Cup means more to teams from the RaboDirect Pro 12 than it does to those from England and France.

Our league can sometimes lack the week-in, week-out intensity that exists in the Aviva Premiership and the French Championnat.

The recent lack of success of the French and English sides has no doubt fuelled the current anti-European sentiment there, but, as the teams took to the field last weekend, you sense that for those who wish to be considered as great then winning the Heineken Cup is essential.

Yes, there are a few one-sided matches during the pool stages, but, in order to lift this trophy, teams must possess more than the weekly consistency that is often enough to win a domestic league.

European champions need something extra – mental fortitude, exceptional skill or unwavering team spirit. Often they need all three.

As I said last week, the closest thing we have to that in Wales is the Ospreys.

Their last-minute, bonus-point try against plucky Treviso was crucial. In past seasons I suspect they would have squandered that point.

However, their true test comes against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Sunday.

The Ospreys have been aided by having two more days to prepare than their opponents who have had to travel back from a draining encounter in Toulouse.

Nothing that I saw in France leads me to think Leicester have changed much in the way they play and this is what worries me.

The Ospreys, although dominant in the scrum on Friday night, were impotent against Treviso’s driving lineout, conceding penalties and a try from this phase.

The Tigers at home are an infinitely tougher unit to stop, building decades of success on such a tactic.

I feel the Ospreys should alter their plan and instead of concentrating on organising against the drive they should go all out to compete for the ball on the Leicester throw.

It’s a gamble, I admit, but if they can’t stop the drive, then they have nothing to lose.

The Scarlets entertain Leinster in what could be an absolute cracker. Both teams need to win and, with Clermont Auvergne in the group, both need a bonus point as well.

Considering the way both teams like to play, this could be like watching rugby on speed.

A loss puts the Scarlets out. It would be a bitter blow after such a promising start to the season, but it’s the harsh reality of Heineken Cup rugby.

What can you say about the Blues? They just threw it away last week. The final 20 minutes had an air of inevitability as the Blues’ decision-making capacity dissolved into an incoherent ramble.

They could not have made more errors had they tried.

No-one is exempt from blame. Why did the coach take off an international scrum-half in the last seven minutes? Why was a shot at goal taken in the last few minutes when they were trailing by four points?

Clearly, the Blues are a young team low on confidence and did not have a clue how to close out the win.

What makes the situation worse was that their opponents Sale Sharks were in the exact same position, yet they managed to find a way, or at least they found a man who could.

Danny Cipriani, the English Gavin Henson if you like, was superb.

The Dragons host Bayonne on Saturday evening after a difficult night against Wasps.

Who knows what the mind-set of the visitors will be? But the Dragons beat Perpignan at home 12 months ago and sent James Hook packing with his tail between his legs.

The target for the ire of the Rodney Parade faithful this time will be Mike Phillips, and let’s face it, they have got plenty of ammunition to call upon.

Personally, I hope Phillips plays well and earns, I fancy, a good night out on Saturday!

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It was former Tarzan actor and five-times Olympic swimming champion Johnny Weissmuller, of all people, who once said: “With but few exceptions, it is always the underdog who wins through sheer willpower”.

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